Front end weight



Dec. 17, 1968 N. P. MARTIN FRONT END WEIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23., 1967 N SN awn 70R NORMA/V P. MART/N 957W Arr'y Dec. 17, 1968 N. P. MARTIN FRONT END WEIGHT Filed Jan. 23, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 m T M N DI. M M v m N Dec. 17, 1968 N. P. MARTIN FRONT END WEIGHT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 23, 1967 llYVE/ITM United States Patent Olfice 3,416,814 Patented Dec. 17, 1968 3,416,814 FRONT END WEIGHT Norman P. Martin, Racine, Wis., assignor to J. I. Case Company, Racine, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Jan. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 610,940 7 Claims. (Cl. 280-150) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A front end weight for a tractor which comprises multiple weight elements and wherein the elements include angular receiving and securing apertures for the means for attaching the weight to the tractor. The weight elements are identical units of one-piece construction and the receiving and securing apertures are angularly offset to accommodate the attaching means. The elements also include centrally positioned receiving and retaining means.

Background of the invention This invention relates to weight devices for tractors and particularly to front end weights for agricultural and industrial tractors. Fr ont end weights are frequently utilized on the above-mentioned tractors to improve traction by reason of holding the front end of the tractor more stable when in a hard pull. There have been numerous cases, for instance when plowing, wherein the pulling effort has been so great as to raise the front wheels of the tractor off the ground and, in certain instances, the tractor has overturned rearwardly on the operator. Of course, the industry is constantly seeking improvements in these front end weights and is attempting to provide a simpler, less costly, and more efficient weight structure. The prior use of such front end weights shows that weight elements have been provided which require varying length attaching bolts when adding or when removing the individual units. An example of this structure is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,352. Another type of weight device is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,701,728 which provides a box-like casing for containing the weight members, which casing must be removed when changing the number of weight members.

Summary of the invention The present invention is an improved weight structure wherein the structure includes a Wrapper and an adapter mountable on the front end of tractor, and one or more identical weights having slots or apertures such that fasteners are insertable in the slots from the front as additional weights are installed. The slots are generally angular shaped and the weights include surfaces for seating and securing the fasteners.

The wrapper includes a right hand and a left hand member, these members being designed to be attached directly to the frame structure of the tractor, and defining means for receiving the adapter and the individual weight units. The wrapper, the wrapper and adapter, or the wrapper, adapter and one or more weight units may be easily installed or removed from the tractor depending upon the working conditions and the desires of the operator.

The principal object of the present invention is to pro-.

vide an improved front end weight for a vehicle.

Another object is to provide a front end weight which is easily attached and detached from the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a front end weight which can be added in multiples without altering the supporting structure.

An additional object is to provide a front end weight which includes a plurality of openings which align with the supporting adapter structure and with other weight elements.

A further object is to provide a front end weight which defines generally circular openings and angular passageways interconnecting the surface openings.

Another object is to provide front end weights defining slots which .are generally angular shaped and spaced for offsetting the fastening means as additional weights are installed. 2

An additional object is to provide a weight having a recess for ease of handling and for retaining an additional weight unit.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken together with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of the front end of a tractor embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the front end showing the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the adapter shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the adapter with a weight unit attached;

FIG. 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of one of the weight units, partially in section to show the angled slot and the securing surfaces;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the weight unit shown in FIG,6;

FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of several of the weight units secured together. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the front end of a tractor 10 having a frame 12 carried on the front wheels 14. Frame 12 has suitable tapped holes for receiving a mounting member comprising a pair of wrapper rails 16 and 18 secured to the frame 12 by means of studs or bolts 20. FIG. 1 shows a pair of studs 20 on the right side of the tractor for securing rail 16, and rail 18 on the left side also has a pair of identical studs. Wrappers 16 and 18 are formed to fit around the front end of the tractor frame 12. Wrapper 16 is secured to the front of the tractor frame with a stud 22 and wrapper 18 is also secured to the frame 12 with a stud 22. These wrappers therefore provide a rigidly secured mounting on the tractor for an adapter element 24.

The adapter element 24 is secured to the wrapper rails by means of studs 26 and 28, studs 26 being on the lower side and studs 28 on the front side. Rails 16 and 18 include drilled and tapped holes 27 in the lower portion thereof whereby studs 26 are insertable from the bottom. The rails also include openings for receiving studs 28 insertable from the front of the tractor. Studs 22 secure the rails rearwardly to the tractor and studs 26 secure the adapter upwardly to rails 16 and 18. Studs 28 secure the adapter and the rails to the tractor frame.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show the construction of the adapter member 24- which is fitted and secured to rails 16 and 18. Adapter 24 is generally L-shaped as seen in FIG. 5 and includes a horizontal portion 30 in which are provided slots 32 and 34 for receiving above-mentioned studs 26 for securing the adapter to the wrapper rails. Adapter 24 also includes a generally upright frontal portion 36 which is provided with spaced openings 38 positioned to align with the openings in the rails. Studs 28 are insertable in the openings 38 and in tapped openings in the rails for securing the adapter member to the rails.

Openings 38 in the adapter also include enlarged portions 42 for receiving the heads 40 of studs 28. Upright portion 36 has inclined or angled slot openings 44 and 46 which openings are similar but of oppositely angular construction, and it is believed sufficient to describe in detail only one of these openings. Starting at the forward or front surface of portion 36, the opening is rectangular in shape, this shaped opening proceeding rearwardly and angularly toward the side of the adapter. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the position and construction of these openings. The rearward part of the opening terminates in a generally circular surfaced portion 48 so as to receive and retain the head 50 of a bolt 52. The sideward portion of opening 44 is reduced as at 54 for receiving the shank 56 of bolt 50. The T-slot structure is particularly important in adding additional weight units to accommodate the fastening means. It is thus seen that to insert bolt 52 into position in adapter 24, the bolt is held in a plane such that head 50 is directed angularly toward the center of horizontal portion 30 of adapter 24, the threaded shank extending outwardly toward the side of the adapter. The head is inserted into the rectangular portion 44 in this position of the shank and the shank passes along the reduced portion 54- of the opening, the head moves along the top of the T-slot toward the rear of portion 36. When the head of the bolt is moved into the circular area 48 of the opening, the shank is then rotated to the fore-and-aft direction. The bolt is retained loosely in this position by reason of the wrapper elements being abutted to the rearward surface of the adapter. The area between surface 48 and the rail provides sufiicient space for head 50 to be moved into the space and to be rotated to the correct position.

It is thus seen that the wrapper elements are firmly secured to the tractor frame and the adapter is also secured to the wrapper rails. With these parts in place and the bolts 52 inserted in the openings 44 and loosely retained in place, the assembly is now ready for receiving the weight units. As seen in FIG. 5, adapter 24 provides a receiving opening 58 in the frontal portion 36 of the adapter for purposes to be described. Opening 58 includes top and bottom inclined surfaces 60 and 62 formed to receive a portion of a weight unit.

As seen in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, there is shown the detailed construction of a weight unit 64 which is of generally rectangular shape. The weight unit has approximately the same dimensions as the front surface of portion 36 of the adapter. FIG. 7 shows the unit characterized in a frontal view as having a plurality of openings 66, three on each side and vertically disposed. The structure of the unit surrounding the openings is designed to secure the unit to the adapter or to successive weight units. Openings 66 are very similar to openings 44 and 46 in the adapter in that they provide a generally rectangular slot 68 in the frontal face, which slot proceeds in an inclined horizontal or angular direction to the rear face of the unit, and thereby provides a passageway from the frontal surface to the rearward surface. The rectangular opening or top of the slot admits the head of the fastening means which is to be moved through the unit. The slot terminates at a fastener receiving surface 70 and also includes a reduced portion 72 which admits the shank of the fastener. The fastener may be a bolt 74 having a head 76 and a shank 78 held secure with a nut 80, as shown in the assembly in FIG. 9. Cooperating with the top of the slot, the reduced portion, and the head retaining surface, is a nut retaining surface 82. Both surfaces 70 and 82 are recessed and of generally circular shape to accommodate successive fasteners, in some places for the bolt head, and in others, for the fastening nut.

FIG. 8 shows a projection 83 on each weight unit having a slanting top surface 84 and a slanting lower surface 86. Each weight unit also has a projection receiving opening 88 in the frontal portion including top and bottom inclined surfaces 90 and 92, which opening is identically constructed as opening 58 in the adapter. As seen in the partly sectional view in FIG. 9, projection 83 interfits with opening 88 to provide a secure fastening and retaining of the weight unit to the adapter and also to successive weight units. It is seen that each successive weight unit is identical with the preceding one which, of course, is advantageous in simplicity and cost. Downwardly inclined surfaces 62 and 92 are for the purpose of receiving and retaining projections 83 and upwardly inclined surfaces 60 and 90 are convenient means for carrying and for positioning the adapter and weight units.

As seen in FIG. 9, bolts 56 and shown in place in the upper slots to secure the first weight unit to the adapter. In the intermediate and lower slots or openings are the bolts 74, the intermediate bolts securing the first and second weight units and the lower bolts securing the second and third units. In this manner, successive weight units can be added by merely positioning the projection 83 in recess 88 to retain the unit and then inserting the fastening bolts and nuts to secure the unit. The T-slot construction, the bolt receiving and retaining surfaces and the interfit of the projection and the recess provide for ease of installation and removal of the units.

The front end weight assembly and the individual weight units as shown and described accomplish all the objects and advantages of the invention as set out above. While only one embodiment has been described, it is to be understood that variations can be made by one skilled in the art. The invention as shown and described is not intended to be taken as limited by the embodiment disclosed, nor in fact, in any manner except as defined in the annexed claims:

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a front end weight assembly for a tractor, an adapter mountable on a tractor and having bolts extending therefrom in the forward direction of said tractor, a weight positioned forwardly of said adapter and having openings extending therethrough from the front surface to the rear surface for receiving said bolts and affixing said weight to said adapter, at least some of said openings being shaped to be slotted and to have an enlarged portion for receiving the heads of additional bolts with heads for inserting said bolt heads into said some of said slots and to have the shank of said bolts extend forwardly of said weight for mounting another one of said weights, the improvement comprising said weight having a plurality of said slotted openings spaced apart and with each of said slotted openings being shaped and oriented in a manner forming a T-shape on the forward surface of said weight, with the cross-bar of the T receiving said bolt head upon insertion of said bolt into said weight, and with the stem of the T snugly receiving said bolt shank, said slotted openings extending through said weight with the T cross-bar extending therethrough at an acute angle from the forward to the rearward surfaces of said weight.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, including a plurality of said slotted openings spaced apart on each end of said weight.

3. The subject matter of claim 2, wherein said plurality is three of said slotted openings spaced apart on each end of said weight.

4. The subject matter of claim 1, including an upwardly ,faced surface and a downwardly faced surface on the opposite forward surface and rearward surface, respectively, of each said weight for vertically abutting each other in placing a plurality of said Weights together.

5. The subject matter of claim 4, wherein said surfaces are declined with respect to said forward surface.

6. The subject matter of claim 1, including a projection on said weight and a recess in said weight, said projection and said recess on adjacent ones of said weights being mated together and arranged to present an upward 5 6 abutment for upwardly supporting said weights on each References Cited other- UNITED STATES PATENTS at J p 3,003,785 10/1961 Straszherm et a1. surface and with said lower surface and sald upper surface 5 3,032,352 5/1962 Barrett. being disposed at an acute angle to said forward surface for retaining said weights together when said upper surface BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

is resting on Said lower surface JOEL E. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner. 

